The development of tailings paste technology could significantly reduce the need for traditional tailings dams. It converts the by-products of mineral extraction into paste, eliminating the need for impounding structures. The paste can be disposed of in landfill sites using stabilized paste for containment, potentially resulting in a more economic solution for tailings disposal.

For the design of a new uranium tailings impoundment in the western United States, it was proposed that an interior drainage system be considered to economically and reliably minimize potential short- and long-term environmental impacts. The objectives were to decrease the effective hydraulic head on the clay liner, to dewater and stabilize the tailings, and to increase the amount of water recycled to the mill. This paper presents saturated and unsaturated seepage principles and reviews the concept, criteria and design of the various interior drainage systems considered.

Abbreviated Serial Title:

Engineering and Mining Journal

Title:

Use of pressure filter to eliminate refuse slurry disposal pond.

ISSN:

0026-5160

Author:

Norris, Dale W.

Abstract:

United States Steel's Cumberland Coal Operations are located in Pennsylvania. Due to high costs of constructing a slurry impoundment and increasing pressure towards no discharge from coal preparation plants, Cumberland was forced to look at alternate means of handling fine refuse material. Pressure filtration of minus 28-mesh thickener underflow material was the best available technology.

Abbreviated Serial Title:

Min Congr J

Title:

Coal waste disposal to eliminate tailings ponds.

ISSN:

Author:

Anderson, John C.

Abstract:

On a national scale, it is estimated that of the total raw coal processed in coal preparation plants in 1974, approximately 96 million tons of refuse were resultant from preparation operations. This enormous quantity of refuse, which varies considerably in physical and quality characteristics depending on both the source of origin and the nature of the process functions that yielded the refuse, must be suitably disposed of in a manner that satisfies a myriad of legislative, technical and economic considerations. The discussion touches upon a few of the aspects involved in assessing, utilizing and applying techniques for dewatering of refuse slurry. There are infinite combinations of process categories and components available for study, research and application to a particular refuse slurry disposal problem. Each must be tailored to a given situation and requires the utmost in thought, concept, planning and engineering.

Abbreviated Serial Title:

Min Congr J

Title:

Densification of deposited ash slurry

ISSN:

1091-8043

Author:

Gandhi, S.R.; Raju, V.S.; Kumar, Shri Vimal

Abstract:

In India, ash content in coal is usually high and percentage utilization for construction is limited. As a result, about 90 to 95 percentage of the ash generated has to be deposited in ash pond. The present ash generation is about 75 million tones and it is likely to exceed 100 million tones by the end of this century. During the last decade, several laboratory studies have been made on densification of deposited ash slurry by vibration, application of vacuum, electro osmosis, etc. In last few years, with assistance from Department of Science and Technology, field experiments have been carried out to densify the deposit by vibro flotation technique and also by explosives. This paper describes brief literature review on the ject and summary of compaction achieved in field by vibroflotation as well as explosives. Based on the study carried out so far, it appears that densification in ash pond is very effective for rehabilitation of the area for housing or other use. It also eliminates chances of liquefaction during earthquake.

In light of the recurring spills and failures of conventional tailings disposal pond dams, a brief review of the Thickened Tailings Disposal (TTD) system is presented. It is shown that by the process of thickening the tailings to a heavy slurry prior to disposal, it is possible to create a self-supporting deposit of tailings and to eliminate the typical superimposed settling pond. These features, together with the ability to reclaim the disposal area even as mining continues, preclude an ecological disaster.